Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: rozalia on June 13, 2014, 21:22

Title: Permanent plant labels
Post by: rozalia on June 13, 2014, 21:22
As part of our local Horticultural societies' 100th anniversary we are opening our garden mid July for 2 days. I want to put labels near the major plants that we have and past experience hasn't been good - black permanent pen on white plastic labels seem to fade to nothing, ditto on metal labels.  Has anyone got advice for labelling that will last more than a season? Thanks, Rose
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: Asherweef on June 13, 2014, 22:30
Copper that you can engrave? They do them in Wilkinsons...
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: archibtbm on June 14, 2014, 07:27
wooden labels with the names etched in using a dremel or soldering iron ?
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: rozalia on June 15, 2014, 17:22
Thanks - my husband suggested copper - its just the etching bit that's putting me off.  Will pop into Wilko's late in week and see what they have label wise in copper.  Rose
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: pigguns on June 15, 2014, 17:28
Am having great success finally with those thin wooden coffee stirrers written on with permanent marker, and some wooden barbeque skewers that have a 'thumb' flat bit at the top. 
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: snowdrops on June 15, 2014, 20:39
A couple of years ago I bought some large slate labels from Wilcos for my permanent planting. I got one of those white pen markers to. Write on it, it seems to have stayed on it, I'll check later.
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: Asherweef on June 15, 2014, 21:37
I love the big wooden ones you can get - just can't justify them at the moment  :dry:
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: agapanthus on June 15, 2014, 23:46
I use 1" x 1" x 12" pieces of kindling with ballpoint pen...haven't faded in 2 years.
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: crh75 on June 19, 2014, 10:15
A soft pencil works better than permanent markers on the white plastic labels in my experience.  Also easy to rub off to reuse.
Title: Re: Permanent plant labels
Post by: surbie100 on June 19, 2014, 11:04
I have black plastic labels from ebay, written on with a white chalk pen. So far the text has lasted 15 months outside with no fading or chipping.